Rolling window screen



July 17, 1928,

1,677,230 G. DE MERCURIO ROLLING WINDOW SCREEN Filed Feb. 10, 1927 T1 1. 2 Tia. Z

IN VEN TOR.

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Patented July 17, 1928.

1 UNITED STATES:

GIUSEPPE DE MERCURIO, OI: HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY.

ROLLING WINDOW scnnnn.

Application filed February 10, 1927. Serial No. 167,230.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rolling window screens of that type wherein the flexible screen element is normally wound upon a 5 spring operated roller 'jOlllIlfllQd in a horizontal position at the top of the window at the outside of the latter, and adapted to be manually pulled downwardly and releasably held in unrolled operative position against the action of the roller operating spring.

The primary object of the present inven- 1 tion is to provide-a rolling window screen equipment for windows, of the above kind, which is extremely simple and durable 1n l5 construction as well as efficient in use.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide simple and effective improved guiding means for the longitudinal edges of the flexible screen element, by means of which entrance of insects and the like into the building between the longitudinal edges of the screen element and the sides of the window frame is effectively prevented, while maintainance of the screen element in taut condition is insured when said screen element is unrolled.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature" of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

' In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

A Figure 1 is a fragmentary exterior elevational view showing a window equipped with a rolling window screen constructed in accordance with the present invention, and with the screen roller housing removed;

I Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section with the roller housingin place and taken substantially upon'the'line 22 of Figure 1;

and I a Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken upon line 3-3 of Figi ,ure 1 toreveal details of the guiding means i for the flexible screen element.

1 Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates achollow sheet metal roller having one end of a flexible screen element or ing brackets 8 secured in horizontally aligned relation on the outside of and to the ends of the top member 9 of the window frame. A suitably shaped sheet metal housing 10 is provided toencase the roller 5 and bearings 8, the same being open at its rear side and having flanges or cars at this side for facilitating its attachment to the frame member 9 as at 11. The housing 10 is preferably shaped to readily shed rain and the like and to have the free edges of its end and top walls to abut the face of the window frame member 9 throughout so that the rain and the like will be excluded, while the bottom wall of the housing terminates in slightly spaced relation to the window frame member 9 as shown in Figure 2 so that the screen element may extend out of the housing for being pulled downwardly and unrolled to a position between the sides of the window frame as illustrated in Figure 3.

The free end of the screen element 6 is bound by means of a folded sheet metal strip held to the end of the screen element by being clinched thereon through pressure of the folded portions of the sheet metal strip 12 into firm engagement with opposite sides of the screen element, as will be readily understood. This strip 12 is shaped of angular form as shown clearly in Figure 2 so as to define a vertical portion gripping the end of the screen element and a lower horizontal portion adapted to seat flatly upon the upper surface of the bottom member of the window frame when the screen element is operatively extended, so as to exclude entrance of dust and insects at such time as shown in Figure 2. Horizontally swinging fasteners or catches 13 may be mounted upon the bottom member of the window frame so as to be swung for engaging over the horizontal portion of the strip 12 whereby the screen element is releasably maintained in unrolled operative condition. In view of the above it will be apparent that the screen element will be automatically rolled upon release of the catches 13 effected by simply swinging the latter out of engagement with the horizontal flange portion of the strip 12.

This horizontal flange portion of the strip 12 projects inwardly as shown so as to move into engagement with the underside of the top window frame member 9 when the screen element is rolled upon the roller 5, thereby limiting such rolling movement in a manner to permit ready subsequent unrolling of the screen element and to present a neat appearance with the slot in the bottom of the housing 10 snugly receiving the vertical flange portion of the strip 12.

The side members of the window frame indicated at 14, are provided in their outer vertical corners with rabbets 15, and snugly fitted in these rabbets are tubular sheet metal guides 16 preferably formed of angular-1y bent strips of sheet metal of substantially C- shape in cross-section so as to have narrow slots therein from end to end and centrally of the inner sides thereof as at 17. Integral with the free longitudinal edges of the guide tubes 16 are angular flanges 18 which face away from each other. These flanges form reinforcements and most desirable bearing surfaces along which are slidably movable ball members 19 fastened at suitable intervals on the longitudinal edges of the screen element 6. It is thus apparent that the longitudinal edge portions of the screen element project into the guides 16 through the entrance slots 17 thereof, while the balls 19 engage the flanges 18 so as to maintain the screen element in taut condition and thereby resist its bending due to pressure exerted thereon either outwardly or inwardly with respect to the window. The guides 16 are formed with ears 20 flush and coextensive with the outer side and inner walls thereof so as to flatly engage the adjacent right angular faces of the side frame members 14 as shown clearly in Figure 3. Suitable screws or like fasteners are adapted to be passed through these ears 26 into the window frame members 14 for rigidly securing the guides 16 in place.

In operation, with the screen extended as shown in Fig. 2 to operative position, the catches 13 are swung out of engagement with the horizontal lower flange of the strip 12 if it is desired to raise the screen, whereupon the spring 7 rotates roller 5 and automatically winds the screen 6 upon the roller until the horizontal flange of strip 12 engages the underside of the top frame member 9. If subsequent unrolling or lowering of the screen is desired, the horizontal flange of strip 12 is engaged by the hand and the screen is unrolled by pulling dmrnwardly thereon until the horizontal flange of strip 12 rests flatly upon the upper surface of the lower frame member of the window as shown in Figure 2. The screen is then retained in lowered position by simply swinging the catches 13 to a position overlying the horizontal flange of strip 12 as shown in Figure 2. lVhcn the screen is unrolled its longitudinal edges will be disposed in the slots 17 of the guides 16, and the balls 15) will suecessively pass into the guides, the upper ends of the latter being flared larger in an upward direction for facilitating the latter as indicated clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat I claim as new is:--

In a device of the class described, including a side member in a window frame, said member provided with a rabbeted outer vertical corner, a tubular sheet metal screen guide snugly fitted in said rabbet, the guide embodying a strip of metal bent augularly on eight parallel longitudinal lines into sulr stantially C-shaped cross-section, with a narrow guide slot therein from end to end and centrally of the inner side thereof, and ears formed on the guide flush and coextensive with the outer sides and inner walls of the latter adapted to flatly engage and to be secured to adjacent right angular faces of the side frame member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GIUSEPPE DE MERCURIO. 

